CVE-2025-21606 in stats
Summary
by MITRE • 01/17/2025
stats is a macOS system monitor in for the menu bar. The Stats application is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation due to the insecure implementation of its XPC service. The application registers a Mach service under the name `eu.exelban.Stats.SMC.Helper`. The associated binary, eu.exelban.Stats.SMC.Helper, is a privileged helper tool designed to execute actions requiring elevated privileges on behalf of the client, such as setting fan modes, adjusting fan speeds, and executing the `powermetrics` command. The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the `shouldAcceptNewConnection` method, which unconditionally returns YES (or true), allowing any XPC client to connect to the service without any form of verification. As a result, unauthorized clients can establish a connection to the Mach service and invoke methods exposed by the HelperTool interface. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to modify the hardware settings of the user’s device and execute arbitrary code with root privileges. This issue has been addressed in version 2.11.21 and all users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2025-21606 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within the Stats macOS system monitor application. This issue stems from the insecure implementation of an XPC service that operates with elevated privileges, creating a dangerous attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise system integrity. The application registers a Mach service named eu.exelban.Stats.SMC.Helper which functions as a privileged helper tool designed to perform system-level operations including fan mode manipulation, fan speed adjustment, and execution of powermetrics commands. The vulnerability specifically resides in the shouldAcceptNewConnection method implementation which fails to perform any authentication or authorization checks, instead unconditionally returning YES to allow all potential clients to establish connections to the service.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables unauthorized local users to establish connections to the privileged Mach service and invoke methods exposed by the HelperTool interface without proper verification. This fundamental flaw in access control allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively bypassing standard macOS security mechanisms that normally prevent unprivileged processes from accessing system-level functions. The implications extend beyond simple code execution to include complete system compromise through manipulation of hardware settings and system monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, where the privileged helper tool fails to enforce proper access controls that should restrict connections to only legitimate client applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software implementations. The flaw creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks that can be classified under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging legitimate system tools and services to gain elevated system access. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates at the system level, allowing attackers to modify hardware configurations and execute system commands that would normally require administrator privileges. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain persistent access to systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system corruption, or further lateral movement within network environments.
The remediation for this vulnerability involves upgrading to version 2.11.21 of the Stats application, which implements proper access control mechanisms for the XPC service. The fix addresses the core issue by implementing proper authentication checks within the shouldAcceptNewConnection method to verify the identity and authorization status of connecting clients before granting access to the privileged helper tool. Security practitioners should monitor for this vulnerability through system integrity protection mechanisms and ensure all users of the Stats application are updated to the patched version. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to privileged Mach services and XPC connections as part of their overall system security posture. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation in privileged helper tools and the potential consequences when such controls are absent or improperly implemented.